The German government is expected to approve a new law soon that allows the army to shoot down drones threatening public safety. (Photo: Social Media)
Munich Airport faced another major disruption late Friday night after suspected drones were spotted near its airspace. This was the second night in a row the airport had to shut operations. The closure caused chaos for passengers, with dozens of flights canceled or diverted and thousands stranded at the terminals.
According to the airport, “from 9:30 pm air traffic was restricted and then cancelled.” A total of 23 incoming flights were diverted, and 12 flights headed for Munich were canceled. Another 46 departures faced cancellations or delays until Saturday morning. Around 6,500 passengers were impacted by Friday’s disruption alone.
The airport added that it provided emergency arrangements for stranded passengers. “As on the previous night, the airport, in collaboration with the airlines, promptly provided supplies for passengers in the terminals. Camp beds were set up, along with blankets, drinks, and snacks,” the statement said.
The airport expects services to return to normal by 5:00 am on Saturday.
A police spokesperson told AFP that they were “currently investigating a lead about a possible drone sighting over Munich airport” on Friday evening.
The problem began on Thursday evening when police reported drones flying near the airport perimeter and nearby towns such as Freising and Erding. Drones were even spotted over Erding, which houses a German military airfield, according to reports in Bild newspaper.
The sightings led to the shutdown of both runways until midnight on Thursday. Police deployed helicopters but could not confirm the type or number of drones involved.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the incidents were a serious warning. Calling it a “wake-up call,” he stressed that “the race between the threat from drones and the defence against drones is becoming more and more difficult.” He also called for more funding and research to tackle drone threats at the national and European levels.
Bavarian state premier Markus Soeder echoed similar concerns, saying: “We must be able to shoot (drones) down immediately instead of waiting.” He also suggested giving police the same authority as the army in such cases.
The disruptions in Munich are not isolated. Airports in Denmark, Norway, and Poland have also faced temporary suspensions due to unidentified drones in recent weeks. Romania and Estonia have directly blamed Russia for some incursions, though Moscow has denied any involvement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also warned European nations, saying drone activity showed Russia wanted to “escalate” aggression beyond Ukraine.
The incidents in Munich came at a sensitive time, as Germany celebrated Unity Day and Munich prepared for the final weekend of Oktoberfest. The festival had already faced a bomb scare earlier in the week.
The German government is expected to approve a new law soon that allows the army to shoot down drones threatening public safety. With back-to-back disruptions, pressure is mounting on authorities to tighten airspace security quickly.
For now, Munich Airport passengers remain on edge as Europe grapples with the growing danger of unidentified drones.
